[as-devel] Children, UIs and Linux

Doug Loss (dloss@suscom.net)
Wed, 15 Mar 2000 12:49:02 -0500 

I'm sending you this message because I think we have a unique
opportunity to design a computer user interface for Linux that would be
very easy for children to use while not preventing them from eventually
using all the capabilities of the system.  The reason I chose you to
send this to is that you are either interested in helping to make Linux
more usable for children, a developer of a current Linux graphical
environment, or an expert in children and HCI.  It's possible that some
of you meet more than one criterion.

Linux is unique among current operating systems in that there isn't one
standard graphical user interface.  Even among the most popular
interfaces there is great variation in the "look and feel."  For this
reason I believe that a discussion on how children approach computers,
and what interface design characteristics are important to make
computers as easy for them to use as possible, could have a more rapid
and influential effect in the Linux community than with the adherents of
any other current operating system.

I'd like to set up a mailing list for the sole purpose of having this
discussion, and I'd like you (or someone else from your organization if
you think that would be better) to take part in it.  I hope that between
the HCI experts, children's advocates, and interface developers I've
asked to join we can come to some useful understandings of the issues
involved, and that those understandings can inform UI design decisions
for future Linux systems.

Please reply directly to me with your answer.  When I have enough people
to have a viable debate, I'll get a mailing list set up.  If you know
someone else who ought to be part of this discussion, please send me his
or her email address too.  I'd like this to not become a large general
mailing list with many "lurkers" and few posters, but to be a working
list where everyone contributes what he or she can.  I'd also like it to
not last indefinitely but to work toward developing guidelines for
anyone interested in making software for Linux for children.

So far, Miguel de Icaza of the GNOME Project and Alfredo Kojima of the
Windowmaker Project have agreed to work on this.  If you can't take part
in this discussion, please pass this message on to anyone you know who
may be interested in the topic.  Thank you.

-- 
Doug Loss                 Even if you're on the right track,
Data Network Coordinator  you'll get run over if you just
Bloomsburg University     sit there.
dloss@bloomu.edu                Will Rogers